Chapter 20%
Seeing Ashley’s reaction, Zoe decided to just lay it all out. “Ash, my cousin likes you.“W
“You have no idea how many gorgeous women throw themselves at him in Puerto Vendaval. I’ve seen it with my own eyes–he’s turned down every single one of them.”
“No matter what I say, it won’t be as convincing as what you’ve seen for yourself.”
Not long after, Alejandro returned to the estate with his mother.
As soon as she laid eyes on Ashley, elegant and poised, Mrs. Song shot Alejandro a knowing look. So, this is the girl you’ve been carrying a torch for all these years.N
Alejandro, noticing her expression, quickly raised a hand to his lips, silently signaling her not to say anything.”
His mother got exasperated by her son’s lack of boldness. She shook her head in disappointment before turning to Ashley with a warm smile.
This boy, Alejandro, finally gets himself a girlfriend and yet he keeps her hidden away. What? Were you afraid I’d try to break you two up?“&
Zoe immediately chimed in, seizing the opportunity to push Ashley closer to Alejandro.”
“Oh, come on! Auntie loves.seeing cute couples together. Handsome man, beautiful woman–what’s not to like?“%
Then, with a bright smile, she turned to Maria.
“Aunt Maria, I’ve missed you so much! You must be exhausted after such a long flight.“”
Without waiting for a response, she eagerly led Maria to the guest room that had been prepared for her, but not before shooting Alejandro a meaningful look.
Alejandro hesitated for only a second before blurting out, “Want to take a walk? The estate is… pretty big.“” The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them. Seriously? That’s the best you could come up with?? He felt ridiculous. Why did he always turn into an idiot around her?”
Still, Ashley nodded–exactly as he expected. She was always polite, always graceful.”
What Alejandro didn’t know was that her heart was tangled in knots. It felt as if a dense fog had settled in her chest, thick and unmoving.
Sunlight filtered through the oak–lined pathway, casting a golden glow over the quiet, timeless estate.”
Inside, Ashley felt anything but calm. When it came to relationships, she had always felt lost. With Max, he had been the one in control–always. If he wanted to start something, it started. If he wanted to end it, it ended.”
Ashley had only ever been the one left to accept it.”
Over time, Ashley had become numb to it all. So, she never expected that one day, she would be the one holding power over someone else’s feelings.
Compared to the ten years of tangled emotions with Max, her brief summer romance with Alejandro had felt like nothing more than a passing breeze–light, fleeting and inconsequential.
She had been the one to walk away. Alejandro had let her go without protest. They had parted ways, seemingly with no strings left between them.
She never realized that the summer she barely thought about had lingered in Alejandro’s heart for a decade.
Ten years of silence. She should feel sorry for him… how unfair it was. Yet, the person responsible for it all… was her. She watched him closely, noticing every small detail–the way he spoke so carefully, the way he measured his words, as if afraid of saying too much.!!
A wave of emotion surged inside her and before she could stop herself, the words slipped out, “Alejandro, you still have feelings for me.“”
His eyes widened in shock. For a moment, he held her gaze, but then, as if defeated, he looked away.
“…Yeah,” he admitted softly. “I still do.” His voice was calm, careful. “I just hope it doesn’t become a burden to you.“” “Why?” Ashley pressed further.
He frowned slightly. “Why what?“%
She curled her fingers, lowering her voice. “I was the one who broke up with you. You should hate me.“”
Hate her? At first, Alejandro thought he did.
That was why he had left the country, vowing never to see her again. But as time passed, Alejandro realized–forgetting Ashley was impossible.
Late at night, memories of their time together would surface uninvited. He could recall every detail, every fleeting moment. After all, he had been the one to seize the opportunity, whispering in her ear during the summer of her heartbreak-
Chapter 19
12:54 AM D
strings left between them.
She never realized that the summer she barely thought about had lingered in Alejandro’s heart for a decade.%
Ten years of silence. She should feel sorry for him… how unfair it was. Yet, the person responsible for it all… was her.
She watched him closely, noticing every small detail–the way he spoke so carefully, the way he measured his words, as if afraid of saying too much.
A wave of emotion surged inside her and before she could stop herself, the words slipped out, “Alejandro, you still have feelings for me.”
His eyes widened in shock. For a moment, he held her gaze, but then, as if defeated, he looked away.”
“…Yeah,” he admitted softly. “I still do.” His voice was calm, careful. “I just hope it doesn’t become a burden to you.”” “Why?” Ashley pressed further.”
He frowned slightly. “Why what?”
She curled her fingers, lowering her voice. “I was the one who broke up with you. You should hate me.“”
Hate her? At first, Alejandro thought he did.
That was why he had left the country, vowing never to see her again. But as time passed, Alejandro realized–forgetting Ashley was impossible.
Late at night, memories of their time together would surface uninvited. He could recall every detail, every fleeting moment. After all, he had been the one to seize the opportunity, whispering in her ear during the summer of her heartbreak-
telling her that maybe, just maybe, she could use him to forget the man who had hurt her.”
The more he remembered, the clearer it became–Ashley had always been different. And before he knew it, he had fallen for her. Deeply.N
Yet, Ashley had still loved that man.
Back then, he never stood a chance. Not then and maybe not now.
He hadn’t been brave enough to return. Instead, he had numbed himself with whiskey and regrets, cursing fate for bringing him so close to something he could never have.”
Until fate gave him a second chance. Ashley had come to Puerto Vendaval. She and Max were over. This time, Alejandro wasn’t going to let her slip away.
After a long pause, he finally spoke. “This is my choice. Loving you is easier than hating you.“%
‘But you don’t have to accept it.”
“Love only works when it goes both ways. I understand that.”
